"My Wimbledon" interview

Ana recently gave an interview to wimbledon.com about the grass court Grand Slam. It is reproduced here:

Why I love Wimbledon: “It’s such a special tournament. Everything about it is unique, like nothing else we have in tennis. I fell in love with it the first time I visited as a junior – it definitely lived up to my expectations.”

My first memory of watching Wimbledon on television or in person: “I wasn’t able to watch much as a kid because in those days it wasn’t shown much in Serbia. But I remember some matches from my teens, for example Goran Ivanisevic winning it, and Lleyton Hewitt, too.”

How I like to relax in Wimbledon between matches: “It’s great that we have the opportunity to stay in houses close to the Club, so I enjoy just going back to my place and relaxing around the house. It’s cosy and the area of Wimbledon is nice and tranquil. And, probably more than at any other tournament, Wimbledon is the place where I watch the most tennis on TV, back at my house.”

The player from the past I would like to face on Centre Court, and why: “Martina Navratilova, because she was such a great player on grass and obviously has a very special history with Wimbledon.”

My first memory of competing at Wimbledon: “I first played as a junior 11 years ago. It’s amazing to think how time has flown by. I remember being with my coach and family and everything was new and exciting for us. I remember playing Kirsten Flipkens: it was the first time that one of my matches was postponed overnight.”

My Wimbledon highlight: “It would have to be reaching the semis in 2007. I had just played my first Grand Slam final, at Roland Garros, and I didn’t know what to expect from Wimbledon because I was a little tired mentally. I played some very good matches and the one that I think back to is the quarter-final against Nicole Vaidisova, when I saved match points.”

The one match at Wimbledon I would like the chance to play again, and why: “I’d like to play my semi against Venus again. She played really well that day but I could have done better and I was carrying a small injury too.”

My favourite Wimbledon tradition: “The rain delays.”

How I spend my time during a rain delay: “I usually go back to the locker room and read, listen to music. Before and after matches I like to catch up with my friends like Sorana Cirstea and Kirsten Flipkens, but during rain delays I usually don’t socialise much.”

How I adapt my game to grass: “I play a little more backhand slice and I try to be more aggressive on my serve. There is a difference in the mentality too, because you have to be ultra-alert, knowing that it’s important to take the initiative and make the first big strike in a rally, otherwise you are going to be on the back foot. In the weeks leading up to The Championships I do a lot of glute exercises, because it’s a big change in the movement: from sliding on clay to getting down low on the grass.”